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That sounds like one of the filters used back before Comcast
switched to digital. We used to have stacks of them in series, each
filter for each premium channel.<br>
Comcast installers frequently have a bad habit of leaving that junk
behind.<br>
<br>
As for excess signal after the amplifier, I was initially going to
suggest putting attenuators in, then remembered we're talking in the
home, not a head end room. :/<br>
Perhaps there is a gain pot on the unit somewhere? Most of the
amplifiers I used way back when had adjustable gain.<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 8/27/13 10:46 PM, Captain Hook
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote
cite="mid:CAGpE10isETm+GWJ1+aRiB6a9-7G5aUQam9v6KiR516PV4y_5pg@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
<div dir="ltr">Results are in:
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Original Configuration: Comcast signal comes in, connects
to a cylindrical object that we believe is a filter. Goes
into a splitter (That was highly weathered, by the way) which
then feeds two cables into my house. One of these goes to
another splitter and then ultimately to my two TVs. The other
goes to a line that leads to a splitter that is then connected
to my cable modem and my HD Homerun Prime.</div>
<div>Results: -0.5 to -4dB (didn't test too many channels)<br>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Test 1. Removed the Comcast splitter (#1 in my diagram)
which was outside. I then pulled the source cable into my
house (left on the cylindrical object which is apparently a
filter) and connected the input into the Motorola amplifier
and the outputs into the Comcast splitter that goes to my
TVs (splitter #2 in my diagram) and the other output into
the line that leads to my cable modem and HD HR Prime
(through splitter #3).</div>
<div>Results: +10 to +12dB, depending on channel.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Test 2. Removed the Motorola amplifier ( (left on the
cylindrical object which is apparently a filter on the
source cable) and replaced this with another splitter I had
from years back that was originally provided by Comcast.
Loss of -3.5dB per output according to the sticker.
0-1000MHz.</div>
<div>Results: -0.5 to -5.4dB, depending on channel.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>When the amplifier seemed to add too much signal I
thought that maybe the splitter (#1) was the problem; this
doesn't seem to be the case. I suspect that the signal will
be too high and I will have the same issues if I continue to
use this amplifier. I guess the other option is to continue
using the same amplifier and either intentionally lower the
signal by using multiple splitters (quick, "duct tape" fix)
or get an amplifier with one with more outputs and
ultimately replace two splitters in one shot. Since the 4
port amp seems to provide a lower signal amplification,
perhaps this will work? I suspect that I will still be in
the positives regarding strength so I'm not sure that this
will work either.</div>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>For what it's worth, the "cylindrical object" I keep
referring to that we think is a filter has "QLP-16" stamped on
it and nothing else. A quick Google search did not yield any
relevant results.</div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Aug 27, 2013 at 10:26 PM, Chris
Porter <span dir="ltr"><<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:hoodlum7@gmail.com" target="_blank">hoodlum7@gmail.com</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0
.8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<p dir="ltr">I suspect there is interference problems or the
input into your house from Comcast is not consistent.</p>
<div class="HOEnZb">
<div class="h5">
<div class="gmail_quote">On Aug 27, 2013 6:22 PM,
"Captain Hook" <<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:captainhookzero@gmail.com"
target="_blank">captainhookzero@gmail.com</a>>
wrote:<br type="attribution">
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0
.8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<br>
<br>
On Tuesday, August 27, 2013, Chris Porter wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0
.8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<p dir="ltr"><br>
On Aug 27, 2013 5:13 PM, "Captain Hook" <<a
moz-do-not-send="true">captainhookzero@gmail.com</a>>
wrote:<br>
><br>
> That strength is without the booster. Here
is more info on the booster if you're
interested. Looks like the gain is 10.2-11 dB. <a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.motorolasolutions.com/web/Business/Products/Cable%20Broadband/RF%20Amplifiers/BDA100/_Documents/staticfile/BDA_Catalog_Specifications.pdf"
target="_blank">http://www.motorolasolutions.com/web/Business/Products/Cable%20Broadband/RF%20Amplifiers/BDA100/_Documents/staticfile/BDA_Catalog_Specifications.pdf</a><br>
><br>
> I will definitely take your advice. My plan
is to move the HDHR around and see what the
readings are in different areas. <br>
><br>
> Thanks. <br>
><br>
> On Tuesday, August 27, 2013, Chris Porter
wrote:<br>
>><br>
>> On Tue, Aug 27, 2013 at 2:56 PM,
Captain Hook <<a moz-do-not-send="true">captainhookzero@gmail.com</a>>
wrote:<br>
>>><br>
>>><br>
>>><br>
>>> On Tue, Aug 27, 2013 at 5:51 PM,
Chris Porter <<a moz-do-not-send="true">hoodlum7@gmail.com</a>>
wrote:<br>
>>>><br>
>>>> On Tue, Aug 27, 2013 at 2:30
PM, Captain Hook <<a moz-do-not-send="true">captainhookzero@gmail.com</a>>
wrote:<br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>> On Tue, Aug 27, 2013 at
5:22 PM, Chris Porter <<a
moz-do-not-send="true">hoodlum7@gmail.com</a>>
wrote:<br>
>>>>>><br>
>>>>>> On Tue, Aug 27, 2013 at
2:15 PM, Captain Hook <<a
moz-do-not-send="true">captainhookzero@gmail.com</a>>
wrote:<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> I am not sure how
much bandwidth the packet loss test attempted to
push. This issue occurs when there is only a
single recording happening, if that makes any
difference.<br>
>>>>>>> <br>
>>>>>>> Here is a link to a
diagram of my network. Yes, my TrendNET 8 port
gigabit switch is just an unmanaged switch. I
have a Sonicwall firewall and a separate Meraki
access point (also both connected to the
switch). My frontend has another switch
connected (also a TrendNET), but that is
upstairs. For what it's worth, my brand new
frontend does act laggy at times with fast
forward and loading the recordings screen but
this is fairly rare.<br>
>>>>>>> <br>
>>>>>>> <a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://s21.postimg.org/iuqsauaif/Coax_Wiring_Home.jpg"
target="_blank">http://s21.postimg.org/iuqsauaif/Coax_Wiring_Home.jpg</a><br>
>>>>>>> <br>
>>>>>>> The splitter just
prior to my HDHR Prime has alternated between
Monster Cable splitter, Motorola 2 port signal
booster, and a splitter I obtained from Comcast
years ago. All three exhibit this issue.<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> On Tue, Aug 27,
2013 at 5:09 PM, Chris Porter <<a
moz-do-not-send="true">hoodlum7@gmail.com</a>>
wrote:<br>
>>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>>> On Tue, Aug 27,
2013 at 1:57 PM, Captain Hook <<a
moz-do-not-send="true">captainhookzero@gmail.com</a>>
wrote:<br>
>>>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>>>> Background<br>
>>>>>>>>> I have
been having intermittent issues with recording
quality with my HDHomeRun Prime with Comcast
cablecard since the inception of this project. I
am really remembering why I gave this HTPC
nonsense up years ago, but I'm already
significantly invested in this at this point and
I am determined to see it through.<br>
>>>>>>>>> <br>
>>>>>>>>> Issues<br>
>>>>>>>>>
Intermittent issues with recordings on MythTV.
Some recordings will be perfect, others will
have pixelation periodically, others will have
heavy pixelation, yet others will be so bad that
the recordings stop during playback. The same
channel will not behave the same
twice--sometimes things are fine, other times
they are terrible. This seems to happen on any
channel and do not occur at any particular time
of the day or during any other operations or
recordings on my network.<br>
>>>>>>>>> <br>
>>>>>>>>> During
playback the pixelation occurs at exactly the
>
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href="http://www.mythtv.org/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users"
target="_blank">http://www.mythtv.org/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users</a><br>
></p>
<p dir="ltr">Okay, so your signal strength is at a
negative. If you amplify that you are amplifying
a poor signal. I suspect If you hooked the HDHR
directly to your splitter #1 this value would be
in the positive. </p>
<p dir="ltr">FYI: a perfect reference signal is
0.0 dBmV. You want to keep your signal as close
to the reference as possible. If you go too high
you can get the same kind of problems. Most
digital devices consider values between -12 and
+16 dBmV as acceptable.</p>
<p dir="ltr">If you do not feel comfortable
replacing splitter #1 with your amp, then I
believe you would get the most value placing the
amp directly after it. Then run any additional
splitters off the amp.</p>
</blockquote>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>This makes perfect sense. I think I am going to
put the amplifier in place of the first splitter
installed by Comcast. It is currently outside but
I can easily bring it inside. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>
Oddly enough my signal is now showing:<span></span></div>
<table style="width:inherit">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align:center"><font><span
style="line-height:normal;background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)">Signal
Strength</span></font></td>
<td><font><span
style="line-height:normal;background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)">100%
(-0.5 dBmV)</span></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align:center"><font><span
style="line-height:normal;background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)">Signal
Quality</span></font></td>
<td><font><span
style="line-height:normal;background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)">100%
(36.8 dB)<br>
</span></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Which really seems to lend credibility to my
"intermittent" description.
<br>
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<br>
</blockquote>
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